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Molecular Workbench

mw.concord.org

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinux
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Spec score 8.6 #5 of 27 in Virtual Lab Software

What it is

Molecular Workbench is a free modeling tool for designing and conducting computational experiments across science. Its interactive learning environment supports science inquiry, while its authoring system lets instructional designers create and publish curriculum based on models and simulations. Users can customize simulations or create their own, with topics spanning gas laws, fluid mechanics, states of matter, chemical reactions, genetics, protein synthesis, and quantum phenomena. Activities can include assessments, student-data collection, learning monitoring, and teacher feedback. Simulations can also be embedded in blogs, wikis, or web pages. The Next-Generation Molecular Workbench brings computational experiments to browsers using HTML5. An offline version is available, but it cannot access the latest simulations or collect student data. Downloads are listed for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and require Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or later. The maker says the software needs considerable computing power and may start slowly while the Java virtual machine launches. Molecular Workbench is developed and maintained by the Concord Consortium.

Spec sheet

What it does
Molecular Workbench provides interactive visual simulations and computational experiments for science teaching and learning.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Purpose
Molecular Workbench is a modeling tool for designing and conducting computational experiments across science.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Integrations
Next-generation interactives can be shared or embedded in course sites, blogs, emails and learning-management systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Headquarters
Concord, Massachusetts, USARead 23 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Founded
1994Read 23 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Maker
Molecular Workbench is developed and maintained by the Concord Consortium.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Analysis tools
Built-in analysis includes speed and velocity distributions, graphing, snapshots and report export.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Assessment
Activities can contain embedded assessments, collect student work and provide teacher feedback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Assessments and student data
Activities can include embedded assessments, monitor student learning, collect student data, and provide teacher feedback.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Authoring
Teachers and instructional designers can create models, user interfaces, guided activities and curriculum modules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Browser edition
The next-generation edition uses HTML5 and JavaScript to make interactives available in modern browsers and on multiple device types.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Browser version
The Next-Generation Molecular Workbench brings interactive computational experiments to web browsers using HTML5.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Content licence
Concord-hosted materials use Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0, requiring attribution and permission for commercial use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Content licensing
The FAQ says Concord.org materials may be reused with attribution for noncommercial purposes, while commercial use requires permission from the Concord Consortium.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Customization
Users can customize or create simulations and curricula.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Developer source
The classic Java source is available through Concord Consortium SVN and can be browsed online.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Documentation
An online user manual is available from the application and is intended to teach simulation and activity creation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Embedding
Simulations can run as applets embedded in blogs, wikis, or web pages.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Extensibility
The Lab framework defines shareable, embeddable and authorable interactives in JSON and can connect models with probes and sensors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lab-framework.concord.org
Installation limitation
The project documents Java Web Start failures caused by Java bugs, network settings and Apple updates, and offers mw.jar as a workaround.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Interactive widgets
Authors can add sliders, buttons, graphs, text fields, multiple-choice items and script-driven controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Learning
It provides an interactive learning environment that supports science inquiry.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Limit: internet dependence
An Italian teacher resource explains that Java Web Start launches download data from the server and requires an internet connection for the online application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · insegnantiduepuntozero.wordpress.com
Limit: learning level
RSC Education noted that one protein-folding activity is two-dimensional and aimed at school-aged learners, while more advanced users may need to design their own simulations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · edu.rsc.org
Limit: legacy technology
The maker’s development blog says the classic edition runs in desktop Java and therefore does not run on iPads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · concord.org
Maker facts
LinkedIn lists The Concord Consortium as a nonprofit education research organization founded in 1994, headquartered in Concord, Massachusetts, with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Notable news
AAAS reported on 23 June 2011 that Science selected Molecular Workbench for a SPORE award and that development began with a 2000 National Science Foundation grant.Read 15 Oct 2026 · eurekalert.org
Offline mode
An approximately 90 MB self-contained download can run without internet access, but it cannot receive the latest simulations or collect online student data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Offline use
An offline version is available, but it cannot access the latest simulations or collect student data.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Operating systems
The downloadable application is documented for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Performance limitation
The maker warns that Molecular Workbench needs substantial computer power and may launch slowly while the Java virtual machine starts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Platforms and requirement
The download page lists Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux support and requires Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or later.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Praise: breadth
An Argentine university science resource directory lists simulations spanning chemistry, biology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and physics, with local downloads available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · exactas.unlp.edu.ar
Praise: classroom modeling
A National Informal Science Education Network evaluation described tools for visualizing atomic phenomena, changing model parameters, graphing and building assessed activities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nisenet.org
Praise: inquiry learning
Education World reported that activities support guided inquiry, searchable curriculum browsing, reports and student submission for grading.Read 15 Oct 2026 · educationworld.com
Praise: recognition
AAAS reported that Molecular Workbench won the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education in June 2011.Read 15 Oct 2026 · eurekalert.org
Praise: simulation quality
RSC Education described the protein-folding simulations as unusually powerful for allowing learners to vary polypeptide composition and observe folding.Read 15 Oct 2026 · edu.rsc.org
Runtime requirement
The desktop application requires Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or newer; the FAQ also specifies at least 128 MB RAM.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Security detail
The installer requires the downloaded file to retain the exact name mw.jar and describes this as a protection against malicious code plugged into an MW page.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Security note
The download instructions say the application checks that mw.jar has not been renamed as a measure to protect the computer from malicious code that could be plugged into an MW page.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Simulation engines
The platform supports molecular, classical-mechanics and quantum-dynamics simulations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Student monitoring
The software can monitor learning and collect student data when used online.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Subject coverage
Published materials cover gas laws, fluid mechanics, phase change, chemical bonding, reactions, genetics, protein synthesis, nanotechnology and quantum phenomena.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org
Topics
Listed topics include gas laws, fluid mechanics, states of matter, chemical reactions, genetics, protein synthesis, and quantum phenomena.Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Web licence
The archived Next-Generation Molecular Workbench project states that its code is distributed under the Simplified BSD licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Molecular Workbench Free Free and open-source Read 29 Sep 2026 · mw.concord.org
Molecular Workbench Free Free Free Core software and learning materials · Java desktop and browser editions Read 15 Oct 2026 · mw.concord.org

Every Molecular Workbench plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Simulations can be customized or created.
  • Activities can include assessments and teacher feedback.
  • Simulations can be embedded in web pages.
  • Free to use.

Limits

  • Offline version cannot collect student data.
  • Offline version cannot access the latest simulations.
  • Downloads require Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or later.
  • The maker says it needs considerable computing power.

Who it suits

It suits science educators and instructional designers who want to build or adapt simulation-based learning activities. Teachers can use embedded assessments and student-data collection in the supported version.

Verdict

Molecular Workbench combines simulation authoring with tools for student activities and feedback. Choose the online or offline version with its data-collection and content-access limits in mind.

Where Specifiction places it

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